Disney-Pixar's Coco is now out in theaters. We had already written up an article about the press conference we were invited to in California, and have reviewed a couple of books on the film (anything Coco related we have links at the end of the review). But I wanted to share my thoughts on the movie, which is now my second favorite Pixar film behind the Parisian delight Ratatouille. The movie was preceded by the 21 minute "short" Olaf's Frozen Adventure. I won't be reviewing that as the guests around me were very loud during it - it looked very cute, better than I expected but will wait until my next viewing to be able to concentrate on that one.

We went to Epcot yesterday for the kickoff of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. There weren't a lot of surprises, but one was seeing some characters in their holiday costumes - Belle was in her Enchanted Christmas dress; Pluto in his Christmas outfit; and Snow White and Princess Aurora had small holiday accents. I have been asked if any other characters have changes during the event, and I am not sure if others do. We were told that these characters would continue meeting through the Festival. Here are photos and videos from yesterday!

We weren't expecting to see Belle, we went to see the Père Noël storyteller in France and Belle was in the gazebo usually used by Princess Aurora (who has moved to Belle's regular location for the event). We have been asked why the swap, I personally would guess it just has to do with the longer line for Belle - there is more room at the gazebo area. There wasn't much of a line when I got into it during the first set, but that changed later in the day.

For the fourth year in a row, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort opened the iconic Gingerbread House with a ceremony. This year, Executive Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek was joined by two of the Mary Poppins penguins! This is the 19th year of the Gingerbread House, which is a favorite of guests - it takes 400 hours to bake the gingerbread and over 160 hours to construct and decorate the house. There are a nice variety of gingerbread and non-gingerbread items that can be purchased here through January 1st, including the Gingerbread Shingle (made from a classic Austrian recipe). A number of gluten-free items can also be found.

We were at the first and third Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party nights for 2017. Each year brings a few changes, I have been posting about the Party for 11 years now and attending for over 20 years. Compared to last year, there aren't too many differences for 2017 - but there are a few. And small changes lead to big changes through the years. Here are our tips for 2017, along with our Mousesteps Weekly YouTube Show #247 talking all about the two Party nights we attended with more tips and an overview. There are some photos and other videos scattered through this article as well.

The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail is back again this year, bigger than it's debut year in 2016 (with 10 more trees) and each tree has a lot more theming to it than last year - more like Camp Minnie-Mickey used to have when it was open at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The Santa Claus meet and greet is now also along the trail, as is a small shop and snack stand. Different ornaments are promoted on the trees and on a large tree at the end of the display. I took photos of most of the trees last night, and have about 130 photos here. There are also fun posters to look at as well as snow falling. I know 130 photos sounds like a lot, but I took - in about an hour - maybe 400 photos and I could have taken more. There is a lot of detail on the trees, so you will want to see the trail for yourself! We should have a video eventually as well. There are 25 total trees, and the Christmas Tree Trail is open from 12-10 Monday through Friday and 10-10 Friday-Sunday.

It was pretty busy last night, so taking some photos was a challenge (like full tree pictures). I plan to go back and fill in a few photos that I want to add.

The new projection show Sunset Seasons Greetings will officially debut on November 9th, 2017 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The short Disney Christmas themed vignettes use the Hollywood Tower Hotel/Tower of Terror as their canvas, just as Disneyland Paris began doing last year during Star Wars Season of the Force. We were able to view the new show last night at an Annual Passholder preview, and I think it's a great addition to the Studios for the holidays (though December 31st, 2017). And if you pay attention during each scene, you will find fun elements like Mickey and Minnie in shadow, the Pixar ball and Slinky Dog. There is also "snow" falling at times.

Disney's Hollywood Studios is now decked out for the holidays! This isn't the earliest the park has decorated, I have been photographing holidays at the parks and resorts for 11 years for our website and one year it was full Christmas on Halloween day. But after ten or so weeks celebrating Halloween, I am glad for the change. And speaking of changes, there are quite a few of them this year. We've already had a year without the Osborne Lights, and last year also saw the new Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! projection show. This year, we will also be seeing the new Sunset Seasons Greetings projection show on the Hollywood Tower Hotel with an official start date of November 9th, 2017. That should look spectacular, but Sunset is already busy most of the time so we'll see how it goes with crowds. When I first heard that Echo Lake would be decorated this year, I wasn't sure what to think - but it is nice, something new. Currently there are no decorations at Pixar Place or Grand Avenue, I am not sure if there will be yet or not.

There is a new exhibit at the Epcot Mexico pavilion called "Remember Me!’ La Celebración del Día de Muertos". Many Disney parks have displays and celebrations currently for Day of the Dead, which is the inspiration for the upcoming Disney-Pixar animated film "Coco". Day of the Dead was first noticed by me at Disneyland many years ago, and there is a large Day of the Dead presence at Disney California Adventure this year. Unlike DCA, I didn't see anything for "Coco" mentioned here yet, but there are 3 or 4 displays not yet filled. It certainly helps Disney guests learn more about the Mexican celebration, which is held on November 1st and 2nd each year. I learned quite a bit that I didn't know.

The exhibit features new art as well as artifacts that are hundreds of years old, blended nicely in display cases throughout the gallery. This is already my favorite exhibit that has run here. There is no current end date on it.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons by Dave Bossert releases on August 29th, 2017 and is timed for Oswald's 90th anniversary. I've been looking forward to this book for many months, and was delighted to be able to receive a copy a little early for a review. Before talking about what is within the pages, I just want to say that the book delivers in EVERY way. As a casual Oswald fan with some knowledge of the character's history, I was blown away by how much detail is in the book. At 176 pages,Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons doesn't feel hefty like some books - it is nicely sized, but the writing is exhaustive and so well researched and detailed. Few words feel extraneous. If you've read my book reviews in the past, I tend to have some sort of criticism on many, but I really have none here.

Fantasmic! at Disneyland is overall better than ever, we viewed it several times during our trip in July. For one of those viewings, we had booked the Fantasmic! Dining Package at the River Belle Terrace. The River Belle Terrace will be closing for a refurbishment with Cafe Orleans replacing it during that time period.

From the Disney Parks Blog: While River Belle Terrace is under refurbishment at Disneyland park, guests can make reservations beginning August 15 for the Cafe Orleans dining package. These packages are available September 5 – November 16.

No matter which table service venue you are dining in, this will give an idea of what to expect with the food and Fantasmic! Dining Package process and show. To be honest, my first choice for the dining package would have been Blue Bayou but it sold out for each night we were there almost immediately once packages went on sale. For about $20 more per person ($65 vs. $45 plus tax and gratuity), it offers a beautiful setting and really a better menu and I wouldn't go any other way next time if booking a package. But if you are on a tight Disneyland deadline and want a good spot with little work, the River Belle Terrace was fine for that. Here is a look at the full experience. The one package that is different is at the Hungry Bear, the food is a boxed meal. You can book packages at 60 days out here.

Disney MaxPass - Disneyland's version of mobile Fastpass with a PhotoPass inclusion - debuted on July 19th, 2017. We were in town at that time and decided to test it on July 21st for the $10.00 per person introductory cost (Signature Passholders receive it included with their pass, other Disneyland Passholders are able to add it for $75.00 per year). Honestly, I had been skeptical when it was first announced. This was the first time I have ever paid for Fastpass or a skip-the-line offering at any park. I also think the name would have been better as "Fastpass Premium" or something like that. But that said, I think it is a much better version of Fastpass than what we have in Florida - easy to use, convenient, and it includes PhotoPass for the day (the PhotoPass part was confusing at first). Here is our review and information about Disney MaxPass.

Disneyland celebrated 62 years today. I can't believe it has already been two years since the 60th! There was a large crowd early at Town Square for the event today, so we started at Sleeping Beauty Castle and did the march down Main Street with the band, Fab Five and Chip & Dale. 62 total characters soon joined the Dapper Dans and other Cast Members. Here is a look at the event with photos and a full video!

I was at the D23 Expo media preview tonight and have video to share of the Star Wars Land model that was unveiled! This is the Disneyland version, though much of the lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will be the same - mostly it is the entrances to the lands that will be different (the transitions). I will also add some photos I took tomorrow evening after the first day of the D23 Expo. I hope many of our readers and viewers are here to enjoy the event! And below the video is the press release from today's unveiling.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge has been undergoing a major transformation over the past couple of years as the new Copper Creek Villas & Cabins development has spurred on refurbishments and additions around the property. In February we posted photos, video and a review of the new Geyser Point Bar & Grill from opening day - at that time, the Roaring Fork counter service location began a refurbishment that just ended last week as it re-opened with a somewhat new look and menu. On this visit, we also walked around the Cascade Cabins that open on July 17th ( we have not been inside yet); the new Boulder Ridge Cove Pool; and the exterior of the resort. We also had breakfast at Roaring Fork and show that as well.

We went to Universal Orlando last week, mostly to finally ride Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. But while there, we found Gru, his brother Dru, and a variety of Minions out and about for meet and greets to coincide with Despicable Me 3! They will be meeting for much of the summer, through August 19th, 2017. There are two meet and greet locations, one in the KidZone area and the other near the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction. Here are photos and video from the meet and greets!

Here is a look around Disney's Hollywood Studios from yesterday. We already posted photos and video in a different article about Cruz Ramirez from Cars 3 greeting guests beginning yesterday morning. We had been out of town for a couple of weeks, and it was fun to see what has been happening during that time period.

On the way into the parking lot, construction on Slinky Dog Dash coaster in the upcoming Toy Story Land can be seen.

Cruz Ramirez from Cars 3 is now meeting guests at Disney's Hollywood Studios. You can find her past Toy Story Midway Mania at Pixar Place. She wasn't on the written schedule today, so not as many guests knew she was here. She does say a handful of phrases. Here are some photos and video from today!